SRINAGAR, Sept 8: Normal life was affected in Kashmir today for the second consecutive day due to a strike called by various separatist groups against the Shopian killings. Police and para-military forces fired tear smoke shells and used pallet guns to disperse protestors at Baramulla and Bandipora. A youth, Iman Hussain, was seriously injured in Baramulla and removed to hospital.

Senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Ahmad Khan continue under house arrest. JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik, who was arrested during a protest sit in at Budshah Chowk yesterday, has not been released yet.

In separate statements, Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) have strongly condemned Shopian killings and criticized the state government for handling the situation and allowing the musical concert by Zubin Mehta.

Geelani today asked Zubin Mehta and German ambassador to apologize for the music concert over the bodies of Kashmiris. They must understand that the killing of four innocent youth and imposition of curfew is a real fact of the serious situation prevailing in Kashmir.

The call for today’s strike was given by both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF. Because of the strike, the normal life was thrown out of gear. Yesterday also a strike was observed in Kashmir against the musical concert of Zubin Mehta.

Reports from Baramulla said, protest demonstrations were held at several areas of the town by the youth. Cops tried to disperse them and the demonstrators pelted stones. The police and forces used pallet guns and seriously injured Inam Hussain. The policemen also lobbed teargas smoke shells. The clashes at Khanpora Bridge continue for sometime during which re enforcement of police and CRPF was rushed to the affected area.

Reports of clashes between the protestors and the police were also received from Bandipora area.

Geelani in a statement said, Zubin and German ambassador must take this message to the international community that India forces are ruthlessly massacring Kashmiris. He demanded probe into Shopian killings by an impartial forum.

Hurriyat (G) chairman strongly assailed chief minister Omar Abdullah and his officers on the grounds that they were enjoying music at Shalimar garden at a time when four innocents were being killed in Shopian. He told the German ambassador and Zubin Mehta that no person can play music on the body of a person. “By your actions you lowered your image in Kashmir. You must apologize for your actions if you feel guilty. Your interpretation of ‘Ehsaas’ is hollow and it is not even remotely connected with reality in Kashmir,” he said.

Geelani viewed that the yesterday’s strike was an eye opener for the ambassador and it was a referendum against India’s army occupation and the irresponsible attitude of German government. “Kashmiris proved that they will not allow anybody to play with their sentiments and sacrifices,” he added.

Mirwaiz in his statement condemned the state government for killing innocent civilians and dubbing them as militants.

CHANDERKOTE (RAMBAN), Sept 8: Waning graph of UPA-II on account of unprecedented economic crisis, corruption seemingly was on the mind of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as he expressed apprehensions vis-à-vis change of guard at the Centre in the ensuing parliamentary polls yet again on Sunday.
“God forbid if there is a government at the Centre unfriendly towards Jammu and Kashmir, the state would be in deep trouble,” Omar said.
His anxiety came out in public as he was sharing concern over g